Research

A variety of research is now being conducted on barefoot running. This should all be approached with caution, as none of it will answer simple questions like “is barefoot running better than shod running?” The simpler the question, the harder it is to answer. The mechanics of running are too complex, with too many variables for one study to answer it outright.

Real science tends to focus on individual aspects of the differences and will seek to compose experiments that reveal these details one at a time.

So any study should be read with care and their findings heavily scrutinised. Peer review, even by you, is a fundamental aspect of good science.